47th NAACP Image Awards


The 47th Image Awards, was presented by the NAACP, commemorating roles, talents, and achievements of people of color in film, television, music and literature during the 2015 calendar year. This ceremony was hosted for the third time by Anthony Anderson on the TV One network.
American singer, songwriter and record producer John Legend received the President's Award for his humanitarian efforts, promoting the voting rights in the United States, education reform for all races and ethnicities and to be "widely read with respect to public policy reform, social justice reform and criminal justice reform". American actor and singer Jussie Smollett, Brittany "Bree" Newsome, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesle, Rev. Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant and the institution The University of Mississippi NAACP College Chapter and Justice League NYC, were honored with the Chairman's Award.
All nominees are listed below, and the winners are listed in '''bold.'''

Motion Picture

Awards adapted by Variety.
Outstanding Motion PictureStraight Outta ComptonBeasts of No NationConcussionCreedDope
Outstanding Actor in a Motion PictureMichael B. Jordan - Creed
Outstanding Actress in a Motion PictureSanaa Lathan - The Perfect Guy
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion PictureO'Shea Jackson Jr. - Straight Outta Compton
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion PicturePhylicia Rashad - Creed
Outstanding Writing in a Motion PictureRyan Coogler and Aaron Covington - Creed
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture, TelevisionLawrence Hill and Clement Virgo - The Book of Negroes
Outstanding Directing in a Motion PictureRyan Coogler - Creed
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture, TelevisionDee Rees - Bessie
Outstanding Independent Motion PictureBeasts of No NationBrotherly LoveChi-Raq Infinitely Polar Bear
  • ''Secret in Their Eyes''

Television

Outstanding Comedy Seriesblack-ishHouse of LiesKey & PeeleOrange is the New BlackSurvivor’s Remorse
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy SeriesAnthony Anderson - black-ish
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy SeriesTracee Ellis Ross - black-ish
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy SeriesMike Epps - Survivor’s Remorse
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesMarsai Martin - black-ish
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy SeriesKenya Barris: The Word - black-ish
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy SeriesDon Cheadle - The Urge to Save Humanity is Almost Always a False Front for the Urge to Rule - House of LiesAziz Ansari: Master of None - ParentsBrad Silberling: Chapter Twenty-Three - Jane The VirginPeter Atencio: The End - Key & PeeleStan Lathan: Cabin Pressure - Real Husbands of Hollywood
Outstanding Drama SeriesEmpireBeing Mary JaneHow to Get Away with MurderPowerScandal
Outstanding Actor in a Drama SeriesTerrence Howard - EmpireLL Cool J - NCIS: Los AngelesMorris Chestnut - RosewoodOmari Hardwick - PowerWesley Snipes - The Player
Outstanding Actress in a Drama SeriesTaraji P. Henson - EmpireGabrielle Union - Being Mary JaneKerry Washington - ScandalNicole Beharie - Sleepy HollowViola Davis - How to Get Away With Murder
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesJoe Morton - ScandalAlfred Enoch - How to Get Away with MurderBryshere Y. Gray - EmpireGuillermo Díaz - ScandalJussie Smollett - Empire
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesRegina King - American CrimeCicely Tyson - How to Get Away with MurderDanai Gurira - The Walking DeadGrace Gealey - EmpireNaturi Naughton - Power
Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic SeriesMara Brock Akil, Jameal Turner, and Keli Goff : Sparrow - Being Mary Jane
Outstanding Directing in a Dramatic SeriesJohn Ridley: Episode 1 - American CrimeErnest Dickerson: Welcome the Stranger - Hand of GodLee Daniels : Pilot - EmpireMillicent Shelton: Episode Ten - American CrimeSalim Akil: Sparrow - Being Mary Jane
Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic SpecialThe Wiz Live!American CrimeBessieLutherThe Book of Negroes
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic SpecialDavid Alan Grier - The Wiz Live!Cuba Gooding Jr. - The Book of NegroesDavid Oyelowo - NightingaleIdris Elba - LutherMichael Kenneth Williams - Bessie
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic SpecialQueen Latifah - BessieAngela Bassett - American Horror Story: HotelAunjanue Ellis - The Book of NegroesJill Scott - With this RingLaTanya Richardson Jackson - Show Me a Hero
Outstanding News Information – Series or SpecialUnsung Katrina: 10 Years After the StormNews One NowOprah Prime: Celebrating Dr. King and the Selma Marches 50 Years LaterOprah: Where Are They Now?
Outstanding Talk SeriesThe TalkMelissa Harris-PerrySteve HarveyThe Daily Show with Trevor NoahThe Wendy Williams Show
Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition SeriesWelcome to Sweetie Pie'sDancing with the StarsIyanla: Fix My LifeShark TankThe Voice
Outstanding Variety, Series or SpecialFamily FeudBlack Girls Rock!Oprah's Master ClassThe Daily Show with Trevor NoahThe Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore
Outstanding Children’s ProgramDoc McStuffinsDora and FriendsK.C. UndercoverLittle BallersProject Mc2
Outstanding Performance by a Youth - Series, Special, Television Movie or Mini-seriesMarcus Scribner - black-ishHudson Yang - Fresh Off The BoatMarsai Martin - black-ishMiles Brown - black-ishSkai Jackson - Jessie
Outstanding Host in a News, Talk, Reality, or Variety Steve Harvey - Family FeudMelissa Harris-Perry - Melissa Harris-PerryBryant Gumbel - Real Sports with Bryant GumbelTrevor Noah - The Daily Show with Trevor NoahLarry Wilmore - The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore

Documentary

Outstanding DocumentaryThe Black Panthers: Vanguard of the RevolutionAmyDreamcatcherIn My Father's HouseWhat Happened, Miss Simone?
Outstanding Documentary, TelevisionMuhammad Ali: The Peoples ChampAugust Wilson: The Ground on Which I StandBeliefKareem: Minority of One
  • ''Light Girls''

Animated

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – Television or FilmLoretta Devine - Doc McStuffinsAisha Tyler - ArcherAudra McDonald - Doc McStuffinsJeffrey Wright - The Good DinosaurWanda Sykes - Penn Zero

Music

Outstanding New ArtistJussie SmollettAndra DayJudith HillThe WeekndYazz
Outstanding Male ArtistPharrell WilliamsCharlie WilsonKendrick LamarThe WeekndTyrese Gibson
Outstanding Female ArtistJill ScottJanet JacksonJazmine SullivanLalah HathawayLauryn Hill
Outstanding Duo, Group or CollaborationEmpire Cast featuring Estelle & Jussie Smollett - ConquerorOriginal Broadway Cast - Hamilton: An American MusicalJanet Jackson featuring J. Cole - No SleeepBig Sean featuring Kanye West and John Legend - One Man Can Change The WorldAlabama Shakes - Sound & Color
Outstanding Jazz AlbumMiles Davis - Miles Davis at Newport 1955-1975: The Bootleg Series Vol. 4Terell Stafford Quintet - BrotherLEE Love: Celebrating Lee MorganDee Dee Bridgewater, Irvin Mayfield, and New Orleans Jazz Orchestra - Dee Dee's FeathersErroll Garner - The Complete Concert By The SeaKamasi Washington - The Epic
Outstanding Gospel Album – Traditional or ContemporaryTina Campbell - It's PersonalKim Burrell - A Different PlaceKirk Franklin - Losing My ReligionKirk Whalum - The Gospel According To Jazz – Chapter IVMarvin Sapp - You Shall Live
Outstanding Music VideoTyrese Gibson - ShameThe Weeknd - Can't Feel My FacePharrell Williams - FreedomJanet Jackson featuring J. Cole - No SleeepAlabama Shakes - Sound & Color
Outstanding Song, ContemporaryEmpire Cast featuring Jussie Smollett and Yazz - You're So BeautifulEmpire Cast feat. Estelle & Jussie Smollett - ConquerorPharrell Williams - FreedomJanet Jackson feat. J. Cole - No SleeepJanet Jackson - Unbreakable
Outstanding Song, TraditionalJill Scott - Back TogetherSeal - Every Time I’m with YouLauryn Hill - Feeling GoodCharlie Wilson - Goodnight KissesJazmine Sullivan - Let It Burn
Outstanding AlbumJill Scott - WomanThe Weeknd - Beauty Behind the MadnessEmpire Cast - Empire: Original Soundtrack from Season 1Charlie Wilson - Forever Charlie

Literature

Outstanding Literary Work – FictionVictoria Christopher Murrary- Stand Your GroundRavi Howard - Driving the KingTananarive Due - Ghost Summer: StoriesReShonda Tate Billingsley - Mama’s BoyChinelo Okparanta - Under the Udala Trees
Outstanding Literary Work – Non-FictionSpectacle: The Astonishing Life of Ota Benga - Pamela Newkirk50 Billion Dollar Boss: African American Women Sharing Stories of Success in Entrepreneurship and Leadership - Kathey Porter and Andrea HoffmanGhettoside: A True Story of Murder in America - Jill LeovySHOWDOWN: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court Nomination That Changed America - Wil HaygoodThe Light of the World - Elizabeth Alexander
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut AuthorThe Fishermen - Chigozie ObiomaBetween the World and Me - Ta-Nehisi Coates The Star Side of Bird Hill - Naomi JacksonThe Turner House - Angela FlournoyThe Wind In The Reeds: A Storm, A Play And The City That Could Not Be Broken - Wendell Pierce and Rod Dreher
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/ Auto-BiographyBetween The World and Me - Ta-Nehisi CoatesAfter the Dance: My Life with Marvin Gaye - Jan GayeOne Righteous Man: Samuel Battle and the Shattering of the Color Line in New York - Arthur BrownePower Forward: My Presidential Education - Reggie LoveYear of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person - Shonda Rhimes
Outstanding Literary Work – InstructionalSoul Food Love: Healthy Recipes Inspired by One Hundred Years of Cooking in a Black Family - Alice Randall and Caroline Randall WilliamsBig Words to Little Me: Tips and Advice for the Younger Self - Sakina Ibrahim and Jessie LeeFree Your Mind: An African American Guide to Meditation and Freedom - Cortez R. RaineyGrandbaby Cakes: Modern Recipes, Vintage Charm, Soulful Memories - Jocelyn Delk AdamsKeep Calm... It’s Just Real Estate: Your No-Stress Guide To Buying A Home - Egypt Sherrod
Outstanding Literary Work – PoetryHow to Be Drawn - Terrance HayesCatalog of Unabashed Gratitude - Ross GayReconnaissance - Carl PhillipsRedbone - Mahogany L. BrowneWild Hundreds - Nate Marshall
Outstanding Literary Work – ChildrenGordon Parks How the Photographer Captured Black and White America - Carole Boston WeatherfordChasing Freedom: The Life Journeys of Harriet Tubman and Susan B. Anthony, Inspired by Historical Facts - Nikki GrimesGranddaddy’s Turn: A Journey to the Ballot Box - Michael S. Bandy and Eric SteinIf You Plant a Seed - Kadir NelsonNew Shoes - Susan Lynn Meyer
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/TeensX: A Novel - Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla MagoonRhythm Ride: A Road Trip Through the Motown Sound - Andrea Davis PinkneyStella By Starlight - Sharon DraperUntwine - Edwidge DanticatYou Are Wonderfully Made: 12 Life-Changing Principles for Teen Girls to Embrace - Gwen Richardson and Sylvia Daye Richardson